Almost every story will reach a point where all is lost. The point when the reader of a romance, which will end in a happy-ever-after, wonders just how the hero and heroine will ever make it through. That point is the Black Moment. It will be dramatic, powerful and emotional and most importantly, have your readers turning those pages.

What is it that will make your reader turn those pages? It’s the worry and doubt that the book will end in the way it’s expected to, with the hero and heroine going off into the sunset in love and happy. That worry, that uncertainty that maybe it just isn’t going to happen will have those pages turning. Why? Because those pages will be full of the emotion which has been building throughout the story.

The hero will to work hard to prove to the heroine that he loves her and the heroine will to finally let go of all her doubts and tell the hero she loves him too. All the emotion the reader has encountered during your story will come to a head as the Black Moment is reached. The more conflict, tension and passion – for each other as well as their goals, the more emotionally intense your Black Moment will be.

When and where should the Black Moment happen in a book? There is no hard and fast rule here, but around two thirds or three quarters of the way through your story, but it will definitely be at the point where the internal conflict of the hero or heroine increases to such a level that he or she reaches breaking point. A point at which they would rather give up and walk away from love and a happy-ever-after.

How to intensify the Black Moment
* Make it only about the hero and heroine.
* Add time pressures. For instance, if the hero doesn’t tell the heroine he loves her now he will lose her forever.
* Ensure the reader thinks there is only the slightest glimmer of hope that all will be well.
* Allow the hero and heroines emotions onto the page. Let the reader feel all that heartache.
* It will also be a time for character growth, a time when the hero or heroine learns some home truths. For example, the orphaned boy, who grew up without love in his life, finally realises that not only can he love someone, but that he too is worthy of love.

A Child Claimed by Gold (One Night with Consequences)

A scandal of
their own making

Nikolai Cunningham has kept his family history secret for seventeen years. So
when photographer Emma Sanders is granted exclusive access to his childhood
home, he returns to Russia to ensure it stays hidden.

Though she
tries to keep her eye on the story, Nikolai's potent sexuality proves too much
for Emma's untouched body to resist! But, convinced she only wanted a scoop,
Nikolai casts Emma out, unaware she's pregnant!

When the
consequence of their recklessness is revealed, Nikolai will legitimize his
heir—with a gold wedding ring!

Hi Olivia - thanks for coming over ... and that black moment - keeping us the reader very engaged and definitely wanting to find out more ... good luck with your new release and have a happy New Year - cheers Hilary

I think it would be difficult to know when to write the ending... I read a series of 7 books that had really good endings but the final book tied up all the loose ends... it was such a good series that I read it many times over the years... it sounds like you know how to get the most emotion out of your hero and heroine xox

Black moment, eh? That's a different term for it than I'm used to hearing, but that works too. It's interesting to me seeing the difference between genres and how the same rules are slightly different.